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Good covers will not do.
They must be GREAT covers!
Especially so with eBooks.
Here is the new cover for THE THREE SPIRIT KNIGHT by the evocative genius, Leonora Roy:
http://www.amazon.com/THE-THREE-SPIRIT-KNIGHT-ebook/dp/B00AD94EQE/ref=pd_sim_kstore_5
Seeing as how my center is "voiding" my position in 6 weeks (thereby side-stepping those pesky concepts like seniority and compassion), I could use a few sales of this book!
How do you like the cover for BURNT OFFERINGS also by the talented Leonora Roy?http://www.amazon.com/BURNT-OFFERINGS-ebook/dp/B008N4QGA8/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1
But enough about me. What do you think of me? Seriously, back to covers ...
We DO judge a book by its cover. Covers are the first and many times, the only thing, by which potential readers of eBooks decide to try or not try.
Covers must ...
1.) HOOK THE BOOK
The cover must reach out and grab the viewer and tug her or him into reading the product description.
So you understand how important the product description also is!
If you can get her to download the sample chapters, your prose has a shot at snagging another reader.
2.) BE THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR BOOK
One image. It must sing the song of your genre. "GIVE ME THE SAME THING ...
ONLY DIFFERENT," said the famous studio head, Samuel Goldwyn.
Look at the covers of the genre you're writing. Study them. DO NOT be like them.
What?
Sure, if your cover is like theirs, the eyes of the potential readers will skim right over yours, not truly seeing it. SAMENESS IS DEADNESS with covers.
3.) BE THE POSTER FOR THE MOVIE OF YOUR BOOK
It must catch the "feel" of your book, giving a fair hint of all the fantastic things within the pages of your book.
Unless you are Stephen King, your name will not sell the book. BUT A GREAT TITLE WILL GRAB ATTENTION.
So highlight an evocative title so that it is spotlighted in the reader's mind.
Consider the titles to my covers in my sidebar.
4.) THE DEVIL IS IN THE DIGITAL DETAILS
In this digital age, our covers must be evocative in a thumbnail and in full-blown format.
Harder than it seems.
Two lovers entwined on the grass can look like twigs on vomit in thumbnail (really not an image guaranteed to get buyers!)
5.) OBSCURE THAT FOR ME PLEASE!
Ambiguity of setting aids you snaring the reader.
What? Yes.
Your cover sets the mystery of your book for the reader. The background becomes a literal character in your book for the browsing reader, murmuring, "You want to know more about this, don't you?"
Do not tell everything in your cover.
Why then would someone want to read when they already know the punchline?
Look at the covers of my novels in the sidebar. They suggest. They evoke. (I hope!)
6.) EXCUSE ME. IS THAT AN OVER-BITE, OR ARE THOSE FANGS?
Beauty is fine, but there must also be the promise of danger, of deadly threat. In a split second, the viewer will either be drawn to your book or decide to pass.
The threat of mysterious danger is essential in having the viewer come to the desired decision.
7.) TEASE BUT DON'T BE MEAN
If a black cat is the major focus of your cover, there had better be a mysterious black cat in your novel ... or you just lost a loyal follower.
8.) I SAID "BE BOLD" NOT "BE BALD!"
Humphrey Bogart said to Yul Brenner years later when Yul said he followed Bogart's advise on how to succeed in the movies.
Be bold. Consider your font.
Did you know that handwritten fonts appeal to women readers? Studies indicate they do. But only for contemporary romantic fiction. Be aware of your market's trends.
Destroyed fonts (damaged lettering) draw in the crime reader.
Popular Apocalyptic novels employed an over-all "distressed" layering to their cover image.
That's all I have room for. A whole book could be written on how to do a great cover. THREE SPIRIT KNIGHT is a follow-up to END OF DAYS:
Great list. A cover isn't everything, but many times it's the first thing that grabs my attention, especially if I haven't read the description yet.
ReplyDeleteMedeia:
ReplyDeleteIt is usually the back cover blurb that sells the reader -- BUT first you must entice the reader to pick up the book in the first place.
A great title will sometimes do that. But a great cover has the best chance of luring a potential buyer into picking up the book to see what the fuss is all about.
If the reader never picks up your book, he will never read your great prose or equally enticing back cover blurb. Ouch!
I do judge a book by its cover. (And your new one is awesome!!)
ReplyDeleteOne's cover is the movie poster - yes. I really feel my covers are the movie poster. And wish they really were movies.
Alex:
ReplyDeleteYou and me both! Thanks for the kind words about my new cover. The praise all belongs to Leonora Roy.
Wouldn't it be great if our books became movies?
STAR WARS and TWILIGHT eat your heart out, right? :-)
Dreamweavers sometimes do pull in the moon. I also hope one day to see yours and Alex's books as movies. (mine, too, if and when they get published)
ReplyDeleteCovers help me decide if I want to look at the blurb on the back. They must be eye-catching yet only hint at what's within.
Do you have a team that helps you (e.g., Leonora Roy)? The images are so well matched to the stories.
As for the work situation, that happened to me as well - position declared unnecessary and I was top seniority (years of service had been declared lowest priority in the new contract). Business is not for the employee in most cases, but rather for the bottom line-$$. I had the last laugh when the boss who delivered this news to me got his own notice about three weeks later!
Best of luck. Remember, we're here to listen and support when we can.
D.G.:
ReplyDeleteYes, the movies of all three of our books in the same year would be terrific. :-)
Perhaps this is the year our dreams start coming true. It's a nice thought.
I am like you: the cover gets me to pick up and read the back cover blurb.
The cover for MOON CALLED did that, and when I read the first paragraph, it cinched it for me!
Leonora seems to have an instinct for creating the right image for me. Wendy Tyler Ryan had the same instinct for book trailers, but her health now prevents that. Sigh.
I am sorry corporate side-stepping cost you so. They have re-labeled the positions in my entire department. We have to re-apply, starting from day one again with minimum pay ... if we are selected -- which doesn't look likely for me. Today, a good friend at work was called unexpectedly to the head office and without warning, he was terminated. He had a part-time job to supplement what he was being paid so no unemployment benefits even.
And since we will forced to re-apply, if we are not accepted, there will be no unemployment for any of us not re-hired. You have to hand it to them -- they are clever folks.
Thanks for caring and willing to support. :-) Roland
Your new cover is gorgeous. And it stinks about your job. :(
ReplyDeleteI totally enjoyed getting my cover. The designer wowed me by capturing the basic details and my taste in one design. I don't know how he did it. Maybe he's psychic? I've wondered if it is too unique. It doesn't look like anything else out there, for sure, but I do love it!
I love it! Your post is practically a perfect comment for my question posed on my cover reveal for Frailties of the Bond.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, your covers DO evoke :-)
the cover is the grabber, you don't buy anything without looking at it first... great list as always, when are going to combine your advices to one book... i want to design the cover... :)
ReplyDelete